U.S. patent number 7,085,811 [Application Number 09/818,721] was granted by the patent office on 2006-08-01 for sender elected messaging services.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pitney Bowes Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert A. Cordery, Donald G. Mackay, Ronald P. Sansone.
United States Patent |
7,085,811 |
Sansone , et al. |
August 1, 2006 |
Sender elected messaging services
Abstract
A method that enables the recipient to receive notification of
the letters, flats and/or packages (mail) that the recipient is
going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail. The recipient
is then able to inform a post or courier, e.g., Federal
Express.RTM., Airborne.RTM., United Parcel Service.RTM., DHL.RTM.,
etc., of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail
delivered if the sender elects to permit the recipient to divert
the mail. The post and courier hereinafter will be referred to as
"carrier". For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically
delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically
redirected to the recipient's temporary address, or physically
delivered to the recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the
recipient's attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have
the carrier open the physical mail and have the post e-mail or fax
the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties
designated by the recipient.
Inventors: |
Sansone; Ronald P. (Weston,
CT), Cordery; Robert A. (Danbury, CT), Mackay; Donald
G. (Roxbury, CT) |
Assignee: |
Pitney Bowes Inc. (Stamford,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
25226245 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/818,721 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2001 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20020143880 A1 |
Oct 3, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/206; 382/101;
700/90; 709/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B
17/00016 (20130101); H04L 51/066 (20130101); G07B
17/00024 (20130101); G07B 2017/0004 (20130101); G07B
2017/00072 (20130101); G07B 2017/00145 (20130101); G07B
2017/00161 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
15/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;709/203-206,217,224,236,239 ;379/216,67,88,211,93 ;705/26,401,50
;358/402,1.15,440 ;713/201 ;380/282 ;370/524,392 ;382/101
;700/90,226 ;707/9 ;718/104 ;715/515 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1178711 |
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Nov 1984 |
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CA |
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19745641 |
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Nov 1999 |
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DE |
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0 375 139 |
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Nov 1989 |
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EP |
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0 465 011 |
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Jan 1992 |
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EP |
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1063602 |
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Dec 2002 |
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EP |
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WO 99/21330 |
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Oct 1998 |
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WO |
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WO 02/01434 |
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Jan 2002 |
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WO |
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WO 02/42979 |
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May 2002 |
|
WO |
|
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|
Primary Examiner: Vu; Thong
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reichman; Ronald Chaclas; Angelo
N.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method utilizing a computer system that enables a recipient to
inform a carrier of the manner in which the recipient would like
the mail delivered, said method comprises the steps of: depositing
with the carrier physical mail containing the recipient's name and
physical address and the sender's name and address; capturing by
electronic and optical means the name and physical address of the
recipient and the sender from the physical mail; translating the
name and physical address of the recipient into an e-mail address;
by checking a postal address database and the recipient's e-mail
database; notifying the recipient electronically by the recipient
of the availability of the deposited physical mail; notifying the
carrier electronically by the carrier of the manner in which the
recipient would like the physical mail delivered; notifying the
carrier that the sender wants the deposited physical mail to be
delivered directly to the recipient or that the sender elects to
permit the recipient to divert the physical mail; and delivering
physical mail to the recipient by the carrier in the manner
specified by the recipient to the carrier, if the sender elects to
permit the recipient to divert the physical mail.
2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the sender places an
indication on the physical mail specifying that the physical mail
should not be diverted by the recipient.
3. The method claimed in claim 2, further including the step of:
charging the sender for placing an indication on the physical mail
specifying that the physical mail should not be diverted by the
recipient.
4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the sender places an
indication on the physical mail specifying that the physical mail
should be delivered only as specified by the sender.
5. The method claimed in claim 4, further including the step of:
charging the sender for placing an indication on the physical mail
specifying that the physical mail should be delivered only as
specified by the sender.
6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies a
data center who notifies the carrier of the manner in which the
recipient would like the physical mail delivered.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Reference is made to commonly assigned copending patent application
Ser. No. 09/818,792 filed herewith entitled "Recipient Elected
Messaging Services" in the names of Ronald P. Sansone, Robert A.
Cordery and Donald G. Mackay; Ser. No. 09/817,998 filed herewith
entitled "Messaging Services For The Visually Impaired" in the name
of Ronald P. Sansone; Ser. No. 09/818,800 filed herewith entitled
"Messaging Services For Uniquely Identified Mail" in the name of
Ronald P. Sansone; Ser. No. 09/818,480 filed herewith entitled
"Recipient Elected Messaging Services For Mail That Is Transported
In Trays Or Tubs" in the name of Ronald P. Sansone; Ser. No.
09/818,195 filed herewith entitled "Method For Determining If Mail
Contains Life Harming Materials" in the name of Ronald P. Sansone;
Ser. No. 09/818,277 filed herewith entitled "Method For A Carrier
To Determine The Location Of A Missing Person" in the name of
Ronald P. Sansone.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of mail delivery
systems and, more particularly, to systems that may deliver mail by
physical and/or electronic means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
People have directly transmitted information from one person to
another. Information was first transmitted by spoken word and later
by written word. Writings enabled people to transmit information by
messengers from a location in which the sender of the writing was
present to another location where the receiver was present. In
time, postal services were developed in which a person would
deliver a letter to the post office in one city, and an agent of
the post office would deliver that letter to a post office in
another city, where the letter would be picked up by the person to
whom the letter was sent.
Ever since the numeric codification of streets and buildings
received general acceptance, an individual's name and the
individual's household postal address have been linked. The sender
of a letter or package would deliver a letter or package to the
post that had the correct recipient postal address, and the post
would deliver the letter or package to the numeric street address
of the recipient of the letter or package. A correct recipient
postal address for the delivery of the letter or package to the
recipient included the name of the recipient; the street address of
the recipient; the city and state of the recipient; and the zip
code of the recipient. Thus, the correct recipient postal address
is usually the actual location of the recipient.
Sometimes senders of letters, flats and packages like to know where
the recipient letters and packages are in the delivery stream. For
instance, if someone is shipping goods, bills, documents, dated
material, etc. to different areas, they may want to know if there
are any problems delivering the letters, flats and/or packages.
Someone may also want to speed up or slow down the delivery of a
letter, flat or package that is in the delivery stream. The sender
may want to redirect the letter, flat and/or package, because the
recipient wants the letter, flat and/or package sent to a different
address. The sender may want the letter, flat and/or package back
because the recipient does not pay its bills, or the recipient is
bankrupt. The sender may also want to make sure that the recipient
can not divert the sending of the letter, flat and/or package to a
different address; e.g., the letter, flat and/or package may
contain legal documents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by
providing a method that enables the recipient to receive
notification of the letters, flats and/or packages (mail) that the
recipient is going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail.
The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier e.g.,
Federal Express.RTM., Airborne,.RTM. United Parcel Service.RTM.,
DHL.RTM., etc., of the manner in which the recipient would like the
mail delivered if it is acceptable to the sender. The post and
courier hereinafter will be referred to as "carrier". For instance,
the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house
faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the
recipient's temporary address, or physically delivered to the
recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the recipient's
attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier
open the physical mail and have the carrier e-mail or fax the
contents of the mailpiece to the recipient and/or parties
designated by the recipient. The foregoing recipient elections will
only be allowable if the sender elects to permit the recipient to
divert the mail.
This invention accomplishes the foregoing by depositing with the
carrier mail containing the recipient's name and physical address
and the sender's name and address; capturing an image of the name
and physical address of the recipient and the sender; translating
an image of the name and physical address of the recipient into an
e-mail address; notifying the recipient via e-mail of the
availability of the deposited mail; notifying the carrier, via
e-mail, of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail
delivered; and delivering mail to the recipient in the manner
specified by the recipient to the carrier, if the sender elects to
permit the recipient to divert the mail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1A is a drawing of a metered mailpiece;
FIG. 1B is a drawing of a permit mailpiece;
FIG. 1C is a drawing of a stamped mailpiece;
FIG. 1D is a drawing of a flat or package that is going to be
delivered by a carrier;
FIG. 2 is a drawing showing how this invention may be used by a
post in the processing of letter mail;
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing how this invention may be used by the
post and/or a courier in the processing of flats and packages;
FIG. 4 is a drawing of the information that appears on one or more
of receiving devices 36; and
FIG. 5 is a drawing of major mailer site 90.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to
FIG. 1A, the reference character 11 represents a mailpiece that has
a sender address field 12; a recipient address field 13; a postal
indicia 14; and an indication 79 from the sender to the post
specifying that the sender wants the mailpiece to be delivered and
the mailpiece should not be diverted.
FIG. 1B is a drawing of a permit mailpiece. Mailpiece 15 has a
sender address field 16; a recipient address field 17; a permit 18;
and a indication 79 from the sender to the post specifying that the
sender wants the mailpiece to be delivered and the mailpiece should
not be diverted.
FIG. 1C is a drawing of a stamped mailpiece. Mailpiece 19 has a
sender address field 20; a recipient address field 9; a stamp 10;
and an indication 80, in the form of a label, from the sender to
the post, specifying that the sender wants the mailpiece to be
delivered and the mailpiece should not be diverted.
FIG. 1D is a drawing of a flat or package that is going to be
delivered by a carrier. Package 40 has a label 39 affixed thereto.
Label 39 has a sender address field 41; a recipient address field
42; and an indication 81 from the sender to the post specifying
that the sender wants the mailpiece to be delivered and the
mailpiece should not be diverted. Label 39 may have other sender
information, e.g., the sender's phone number 44. Indicia 43 is
affixed to label 39. Indicia 43 may be a postal indicia or courier
symbology.
FIGS. 1A 1D show various methods of evidence for the payment of
postage. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that
additional methods of evidence for the payment of postage
exist.
FIG. 2 is a drawing showing how this invention may be used by a
post in the processing of letters. Letter mail that is deposited in
trays 6 and delivered to the post is read by multiple optical
character reader ("MLOCR") 23. Collection letter mail may be:
metered letter mail that is produced at a mailer site 7 or a sender
household 8 by a postage meter or a personal computer meter;
stamped mail; or permit mail. Collection letter mail is placed in
collection mail input 21, e.g., mail boxes or delivered to the
United States Postal Service, unsorted. Collection letter mail is
sent to advanced facer canceller ("AFCS") 22. AFCS 22 first faces
the letter mail. Then AFCS 22 electronically identifies and
separates prebarcoded mail, handwritten addresses and
machine-imprinted address pieces for faster processing through
automation. Letter mail that 22 determines is optical character
readable is sent to multi-line optical character reader/code
printer ("MLOCR") 23. MLOCR 23 reads the entire address on the
letter mail; sprays a bar code on the mail; and then sorts the
mail. Letter mail that is able to be scanned and sorted by MLOCR 23
is sent to bar code sorter/code printer ("BCS") 24. Letter mail
that the mailer has prebarcoded and contains a facing
identification mark is sent to BCS 24.
Trayed mail 82 (mail in which the sender is entitled to discounts)
that is produced at a major mailer site 90 (FIG. 5) is sent to a
delivery bar code sorter/code printer ("DBCS") 25 or a carrier
sequence bar code sorter/code printer ("CSBCS") 26. Sorters 25 and
26 sort the letter mail in the order that the mail is going to be
delivered by postal carrier 27. Letter mail that AFCS 22 determines
is not optical character readable is sent to bar code sorter/code
printer 28. Letter mail that AFCS 22 obtains electronic images from
and letter mail that MLOCR 23 obtains electronic images from
transfers the electronic images to remote bar code system ("RBCS")
32. RBCS 32 matches the looked-up zip code for the letter
mailpieces from AFCS 22 and merges them. RBCS 32 electronically
transmits the bar code information to BCS 28 where the bar code
information is sprayed on the mailpieces. Letter mail that is able
to be scanned and sorted by sorters 24 and 28 is sent to a delivery
DBCS 25. Sorters 25 and 26 sort the letter mail in the order that
the mail is going to be delivered by postal carrier 27, or hold the
mail for recipient diversion for a specified period of time in
divert mail options rerouting controller 62.
Letter mail that can not be scanned and sorted by sorters 24 and 28
is sent to letter mail sort machine ("LSM") 29. Letter mail that
can be sorted by LSM 29 is sent to postal hand casing 30. Postal
hand casing 30 is the process in which the postal carrier sorts the
letter mail in the order that the letter mail is going to be
delivered by postal carrier 27. Letter mail that can not be sorted
by LSM 29 is sent to manual lookup/scan 31. Manual lookup/scans 31
attempts to classify the previously rejected mailpiece to redirect
the mailpiece; declare the mailpiece dead; or manually re-code the
mailpiece for redelivery. Then the mailpieces that have not been
processed in manual lookup/scan 31 are sent to dead letters 33. In
manual lookup/scan 31, an operator may determine the address of the
recipient and produce a label to be placed on the letter mail. Then
the letter mail would go to postal hand casing 30 where the mail is
sorted in the order that the mail is going to be delivered by
postal carrier 27.
Letter mail that can not be faced and cancelled by AFCS 22 is sent
to manual lookup/scan process 31. Manual lookup/scan 31 attempts to
classify the previously rejected letter mailpiece to redirect the
mailpiece; declare the mailpiece dead; or manually re-code the
mailpiece for redelivery. Then the letter mail that manual
lookup/scan 31 is able to classify is sent to postal carrier hand
casing 30 before it is delivered by postal carrier 27.
Coded video system ("RBCS") 32 electronically transmits the bar
code information that represents the destination of the letter
mailpiece and the party to whom the mailpiece is to be delivered
and the image of the face of the mailpiece to data center 34. The
aforementioned scanners scan all of the information appearing on
the face of the letter mail, e.g., the sender's name and address 12
(FIG. 1A), the recipient's name and address 13, postal indicia 14
and indication 79. The scanned information is transferred to accept
process images 52. Then the information is sent to encode, sort,
store 53. At this point, the recipient's physical address is
verified by checking postal address database 54 and the recipient's
e-mail address is determined from e-mail database 55. Temporary
database 56 is then searched to determine whether or not the
recipient has left any forwarding addresses. Encode, sort, store 53
then encodes and sorts the information obtained from databases 54,
55 and 56.
The aforementioned encoded and sorted information is stored in mail
image database+archive 57. Then the mail image information is sent
to manage mail image DB 58 where the various options and the costs
associated therewith that the recipient may have for delivering the
information contained in the letter mail is determined. Then the
mail images and options that the recipient has for receiving the
letter mail from manage mail DB 58 and mailpiece image store and
forward 99 (FIG. 5) is sent to send user images 59. The information
appearing on the face of the letter mail in alphanumeric and
graphic form and the options in alphanumeric and graphic form that
the recipient has for receiving the letter mail are transmitted to
receiving device 36 (personal computer, television, facsimile
machine, personal data assistant, etc.), which is located at the
recipient's business or household 35. The options that the
recipient has for diverting the letter mail is described in the
description of FIG. 4. If the sender placed an indication 79 or 80
on the mailpiece, the post will deliver the mailpiece in the manner
selected by the mailer and not divert the mailpiece.
The recipient may use device 36 (personal computer, facsimile
machine, personal data assistant, etc.) located at the recipient's
business or household 35 to inform, receive, and process user
options 61, located at data center 34, of the manner in which the
letter mail should be delivered. The recipient may also use a touch
tone and/or voice telephone 87 to inform receive & process user
options 61 of the manner in which the recipient would like the
letter mail displayed on the receiving device 36, e.g., television
delivered. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that
additional communication devices may be used by the recipient to
communicate with the carrier. For instance, the recipient may want
the letter mail physically delivered to the recipient's house
faster or slower, or the letter mail physically redirected to the
recipient's temporary address, or physically delivered to the
recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the recipient's
attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the post
open the letter mail and have the post e-mail or fax the contents
of the letter mail to the recipient and/or parties designated by
the recipient. If the sender placed a indication 79 or 80 on the
mailpiece, the post will deliver the mailpiece in the manner
selected by the mailer and not divert the mailpiece.
At this juncture the recipient may inform receive & process
user options 61 via a device 36 of the manner in which the
recipient would like the letter mail processed. Options 61 will
then inform the recipient via device 36 of the cost to the
recipient to process the letter mail in the manner selected by the
recipient. The recipient may then inform the post to deliver the
letter mail in the manner selected by the recipient. The
recipient's selected manner of letter mail processing is forwarded
to options rerouting controller 62. If the post-specified time to
deliver the letter mail has not been reached, the letter mail is
sent to recipient options 64 and delivered in the manner selected
by the recipient in optional diversion processes 65. Then optional
diversion process 65 informs manage mail db 58 to archive the image
and also to notify bill sender and pay carriers 66 to bill the
recipient and pay the post. At this point, the next letter mail
image is ready to be processed.
The letter mail may then be delivered to the recipient at mail box
37 at a faster or slower rate than that selected by the sender;
held by the post for a specified amount of time and then delivered
to a address specified by the recipient; opened, and the contents
of the letter mail faxed to recipient-selected fax numbers; opened,
and the contents of the letter mail faxed to recipient-selected fax
numbers, and then the letter mail may be delivered to the physical
address specified by the recipient; opened, and the contents of the
letter mail e-mailed to recipient-selected e-mail addresses; or
opened, and the contents of the letter mail e-mailed to
recipient-selected e-mail addresses, and then the letter mail may
be delivered to the physical address specified by the recipient.
The recipient may also have instructed the post to return the mail
to the sender, to destroy the mail, or to recycle the paper in the
letter mail. Receive & process user options 61 will also send
the cost of the recipient-selected manner of delivery to bill user
& pay post/couriers 66 so that the post may debit the
recipients account or send a bill to the recipient.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing how this invention may be used by a
post or courier in the processing of packages and flats. Packages
and flats that are deposited with the carrier at 50 are scanned by
scanner/coder 51. Scanner/coder 51 scans all of the information
appearing on the face of the package or flat, e.g., the sender's
address 41 (FIG. 1D); the sender's phone number 44; the recipient's
address 42 and courier symbology 43. The scanned information is
coded, formatted and sorted, and the physical flat or package is
sent to internal routing for physical delivery of the package or
flat 63. The aforementioned information is transferred to accept
process images 52, which is located at data center 34. Then the
information is sent to encode, sort, store 53. At this point, the
recipient's physical address is verified by checking postal address
database 54, and the recipient's e-mail address is determined from
e-mail database 55. Temp db 56 is then searched to determine
whether or not the recipient has left any forwarding addresses.
Encode sort store 53 then encodes and sorts the information
obtained from databases 54, 55 and 56.
The aforementioned encoded and sorted information is stored in
mailpiece images db+archive. 57. Then the package or flat image
information is sent to manage mail image 58 where the various
options and the costs associated therewith, that the recipient may
have for delivering the information contained in the package or
flat are determined. Then the mail images and options that the
recipient has for receiving the package or flat are sent to send
user images 59, where the information appearing on the face of the
package or flat in alphanumeric and graphic form and the options in
alphanumeric and graphic form the recipient has for receiving the
package or flat are transmitted to receiving device 36 (personal
computer+printer [PC], television [TV], facsimile machine [FAX],
personal data assistant [PDA], etc.), which is located at the
recipient's business or household 35. The recipient may use device
36 (personal computer+printer (PC), television (TV), facsimile
machine (FAX), personal data assistant (PDA), etc.) located at the
recipient's business or household 35 to inform receive and process
user options 61, located at data center 34, of the manner in which
the package or flat should be delivered. The recipient may also use
a touch tone and/or voice telephone 87 to inform receive &
process user options 61 of the manner in which the recipient would
like the package or flat displayed on the receiving device 36,
e.g., television delivered. For instance, the recipient may want
the package or flat physically delivered to the recipient's house
faster or slower, or the package or flat physically redirected to
the recipient's temporary address, or physically delivered to the
recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the recipient's
attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the post
open the package or flat and have the post e-mail or fax the
contents of the package or flat to the recipient and/or parties
designated by the recipient. If the sender placed a statement 81 on
the flat or package, the carrier will deliver the mail in the
manner selected by the mailer and not divert the mailpiece.
At this juncture, the recipient may inform receive & process
user options 61 via a device 36 of the manner in which the
recipient would like the package or flat processed. Receive &
process user options 61 will then inform the recipient via device
36 of the cost to the recipient to deliver the package or flat in
the manner selected by the recipient. The recipient may then inform
the carrier to deliver the package or flat in the manner selected
by the recipient. The recipient's selected manner of package or
flat delivery is forwarded to options rerouting controller 62. If
the carrier specified time to deliver the package or flat has not
been reached or the package or flat is at internally routing for
physical processing 63, the package or flat will be sent to
recipient options 64 and delivered in the manner selected by the
recipient in route mail options 65. Then route mail options 65
informs manage mail image db 58 to archive the image and also to
notify bill user and pay carriers 66 to bill the recipient and pay
the carrier. At this point, the next package or flat image is ready
to be processed.
The package or flat may then be delivered to the recipient at mail
box 37 at a faster or slower rate than that selected by the sender;
held by the courier for a specified amount of time and then
delivered to a address specified by the recipient; opened, and the
contents of the package or flat faxed to recipient selected fax
numbers; opened, and the contents of the package or flat faxed to
recipient selected fax numbers, and then the package or flat may be
delivered to the physical address specified by the recipient;
opened and the contents of the package or flat e-mailed to
recipient selected e-mail addresses; or opened, and the contents of
the package or flat e-mailed to recipient selected e-mail
addresses, and then the package or flat may be delivered to the
physical address specified by the recipient. The recipient may also
have instructed the post or courier to return the mail to the
sender or to destroy the contents of the package or flat or recycle
the contents of the package or flat. Receive & process user
options 61 will also send the cost of the recipient selected manner
of delivery to bill user & pay carriers 66 so that the carrier
may debit the recipients account or send a bill to the
recipient.
FIG. 4 is a drawing of the information that appears on one or more
of receiving devices 36. The information may appear on the display
of a personal computer, the screen of a television set, or paper 70
printed by a printer or facsimile machine. An image of the face of
a letter mail is shown at 71 and 83 and a image of the face of a
flat or package is shown at 73. Data associated with letter mail 71
is shown at 74 and data associated with letter mail 83 is shown at
84. Since indication 79 appears on letter mail 83 data 84 indicates
that the carrier must deliver letter mail 83. Data associated with
package or flat 73 is shown at 76. The options that the recipient
has for diverting letter mail 71 and package or flat 73 is shown at
85 and the time that the recipient would like delivery is shown at
78.
FIG. 5 is a drawing of major mailer site 90 that is used in the
production of mailpieces for tray 82 (shown in FIG. 2). A mainframe
91 is located at site 90. Mainframe 91 performs preprocessing of
the mailpiece by controlling the content and composition of the
mailpiece as well as the address management, presortation postal
requirements and postal process bar code requirements. Mainframe 91
is coupled to postal address database 92, postal discount rules 93,
tray routes database 94, and SED process 95. Mainframe 91 utilizes
postal address database 92, postal discount rules 93, tray routes
database 94 and SED process 95 to instruct content printer 96 to
print the material that is required for the mailing, e.g.,
information appearing on the face of the mailpiece; and material
that is going to be inserted into the mailpiece. Inserter and meter
97 inserts the material into the correct mailpiece, seals the
mailpiece, applies the correct postage to the mailpiece, places the
mailpiece in the proper tray 82 and prepares documentation for the
mailpieces in tray 82. Mail face image scanner 98 scans the images
on the face of each mailpiece as inserter and meter 97 is traying
the mailpieces. Then mail face image scanner 98 forwards the
scanned images to mailpiece image store & forward 99. Mainframe
91 will cause tray label printer 101 to print a label according to
mail traying process 100 for the tray 82 that inserter and meter 97
is filling when the tray 82 is filled and process 100 receives
complete tray inputs from mail face image scanner 98. Then the tray
82 containing the mailpieces goes to tray routing and booking
process 102 and shipping process 103. When tray 82 is in shipping
process 103, postal discount acceptance document printer 104 will
be instructed by mainframe 91 to print the proper postal
documentation for the mailpieces in tray 82. After process 103
places the proper documentation in trays 82, they are ready to be
shipped to DBCS 25 or CSBCS 26 (FIG. 2).
The above specification describes a new and improved method that
enables a recipient to inform a carrier of the manner in which the
recipient would like the mail delivered if the sender elects to
permit the recipient to divert the mail. It is realized that the
above description may indicate to those skilled in the art
additional ways in which the principles of this invention may be
used without departing from the spirit. Therefore, it is intended
that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *
References